JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Individuals who undergo metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) are at increased risk for postoperative alcohol use disorder (AUD). Reducing postoperative alcohol use could prevent the development of an AUD; however, the factors leading to episodic alcohol use are not known.

Objective:

The purpose of this paper is to describe the protocol for a study that will examine distal and proximal factors associated with episodic alcohol use and hazardous alcohol use among individuals who underwent MBS.

Methods:

We will enroll 100 participants who underwent MBS at a single health care system. Participants will complete measures of substance use, psychiatric symptoms, and disordered eating behaviors at baseline and at 6-week and 12-week follow-ups. Participants will also complete a 3-week ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol in which they will complete brief surveys each morning and evening reporting on their mood, disordered eating, and substance use.

Results:

We anticipate that our study protocol will be feasible and that we will observe at least 80% participant retention at the follow-up assessments and their response to at least 75% of EMA signals. We hypothesize that depressive symptoms (distal factor) and negative affect (proximal factor) will be associated with increased alcohol use, and that alcohol use will occur in lieu of disordered eating behaviors.

Conclusions:

Findings will help us understand distal and proximal factors leading to episodic alcohol use following MBS. This knowledge will allow us to construct better monitoring for postoperative alcohol use within MBS programs and identify targets of intervention to reduce alcohol use after MBS.